The City Holds Its Breath - Chicago Between Protests and Federal Threat

Chicago these days is a city in a state of emergency - not because of crime, but because of politics. While Donald Trump is threatening with the National Guard and ICE is preparing large-scale raids, thousands have demonstrated in the streets of the metropolis. Banners with the words "No Trump - No Troops" dominated the scene, as civil rights activists, teachers, unions, and clergy marched side by side. Mayor Brandon Johnson responded with a drastic step: a decree that prohibits the Chicago police from any cooperation with federal authorities. No perimeters for raids, no transport of detainees, no quietly coordinated action. Johnson even instructed officers to appear in uniform and without masks during operations so that no one confuses them with ICE agents. "Our police will not become the extended workbench of the president," he said in front of rolling cameras.

The consequences of the escalation are already being felt in everyday life. Parents prefer to have their children attend classes online so as not to put them in danger on the streets. Small businesses in Mexican neighborhoods report drops in sales because customers no longer come, afraid of getting caught up in a raid. In some neighborhoods, the streets are deserted. Chicago has had sanctuary status for four decades, but now the city faces the question of whether it can maintain this protection under federal pressure. Already in June there was a tense scene: ICE arrested ten people in an immigration office. Only later did it become clear that the local police initially did not know it was a federal action - a communications disaster that fueled debate in the city council. Council members demanded an investigation after witnesses reported that police had protected ICE vehicles.

Legal scholars now warn that the dividing line between city police and federal authorities is becoming blurred. Craig Futterman of the University of Chicago says: "On paper, sanctuary cities are clearly regulated. In practice, that order becomes blurred when ICE and local police are on the streets at the same time." And the scenario could soon become even more explosive: Should Trump actually send the National Guard, a troop will patrol the city that is not trained in evidence preservation and has no everyday ties to the population. The legal consequences could be serious: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner warns that trials could collapse if suspects are not properly advised of their rights or evidence is improperly collected. And even if a massive federal presence temporarily pushes down crime, it is a false solution. "As soon as they leave, the violence returns," warns Kenneth Corey, former NYPD chief and now a lecturer in Chicago. "The causes remain." This makes Chicago a test case for the entire country: Can a city protect its people, keep its economy running, and at the same time withstand pressure from the White House? Or will it ultimately be forced to bow to the federal dictate? One thing is clear: What is happening here goes far beyond police tactics. It is a struggle over the identity of a city - and perhaps over the question of whether there is still room for local self-government in America.